Heel pad



July 28, 1931. e. A. RICHARD HEEL PAD Filed Jan. 27/ 1950 amnion 9Y1].dttovmu;

Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES HEEL ran y 7 Application filed.January 27, 1930. Serial No; 423,698

This invention relates to heel pads and has special reference to oneparticularly adapted for use in the heel of the ordinary shoe, theprincipal object being to provide simple means for the furtherance ofcomfort of the user.

Another object is to provide convenient means for the elevation of theheel of the foot within the shoe in permitting the foot to assume themost natural position when the shoe engages the ground.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefurther description thereof. I

Referring now to the, accompanying drawings, forming part of thisapplication, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts;

A Figure 1 is a top plan view of one ofthe completely assembled padsembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the insideof the heel portion of a shoe withone of the pads installed therein, and as it would appear after someconsiderable wear.

The pad is of fabricated construction and comprises the bottom orfoundation layer 1, preferably of sheepskin leather, and an upper layeror cover 2, of like leather, the latter being materially longer than thebottom layer, such additional length being upon the forward end thereof,as the two layers are intended to register throughout except at theforward edge.

These members are sewed together or stitched longitudinally a portion ofthe straight sides thereof as at 3 resulting in both ends being open,forming a receptacle for the pad or cushion member 4 which is of spongerubber and insertable within the receptacle; it being formed the generalshape of the interior thereof and readily removable when desired throughthe open rear end. This pad 4 is novel in that the forward or narrowerend thereof is bifurcated a considerable distance inwardly of the pad,

o r a andthe upper edges of saidbifurcated portion and inner terminithereof are cham I fered or beveledas indic'ated'at 5 The bifurcation ofthe end of'th'e p ad is accom-t plish'ed' by' the V'-s'haped notch 6 jforming centering means for the heel of the'wearer, as the bottom of'theforward'portionof the heel is naturally arcuate inshape transversely andconsequently it will tend "tocenter withinthis V-shaped recess, thesame"being found to function admirably in keeping the heel pad in properposition within the heel of the shoe. r r

This centering feature of the pad is particularly essential'in thatthecompletely assembled padeis preferably made considerably smaller inwidth than the Width of the heel portion of th'e shoe inwhich it isused. It is well known that a shield pad or other piece-0f leatherinstalled within the heel'of' a shoe'has a marked tendency to creepjandmustbe either glued or fastened indifferent places to maintain itsproper posit on, whereas my improvedfpad can bemade considerably smallerthan the area 7 within the heel andrheld in positionlwith butga single;tack, this beingvdue to the automatic centering element just described.

The principal marked advantage of the pad being made smaller than thearea of the heel, is to permit ready circulation of air in properventilation in and about the heelof the wearer, and it is found inpractice that after long use both walls of the pad as well as theresilient member itself remain perfectly dry and comfortable to thewearer.

The base member 1 of the pad extends considerably beyond the forward endof the cushion member 4 roviding ample room for the single tack forholding same in position; this tack occurring just forwardly of theV-shaped cutaway portion of the resilient member is amply protectedagainst interference in any way with the wearer, and the cover memberextending still further. beyond both the resilient member and bottommember 1 provides a loose but adequate wearing and shielding surface.Furthermore it is found by the use of such a pad that the foot becomessomewhat elevated just forwardly of the heel upon either side thereof,permitting of longitudinal air channels as it were on either side of thepad, and this to such an extent that frequently the edges of the insoleindicated at 8 turn up slightly as shown at 9, partially filling saidspace and further tending to properly center the pad, andthus providinga heel-centering pad which is susceptible to variations corresponding tothe characteristics of the wearers feet, it being essential that themajor portion of the thrust of the wearers weight occur at the center ofthe heel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is: g V

l. A heel pad for shoes of a shape similar to that of the interior ofthe heel of the shoe though materially narrower throughout the forwardportion thereof, said narrower portionfhaving straight converging sides,said pad comprising two similarly shaped flexible members being stitchedtogether only longitudinally of said straight sides resulting in bothends being open, and a resilient pad insertable intermediate of the twoconverging members. 7 V

2. A heel pad for shoes of a shape similar to that of the interior ofthe heel of the shoe though materially narrower throughout the forwardportion thereof, said narrower portion having straight converging sides,said pad comprising two similarly shaped fiexible members being stitchedtogether only longitudinally of said straight sides, resulting in bothends being open, a resilient pad insertable intermediate of the twoconverging members, said pad being provided with heel-centering meansfor the purpose described.

v In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE A. RICHARD.

